September 2025

Released December 11, 2025

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United States

Employment snapshot

• In September, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 10, rose in 21, and remained unchanged in 20.

• The highest unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent.

• In September, payroll jobs rose in 30 states and fell in 20. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.6 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Virginia

Employment snapshot

• In September, Virginia lost 5,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent. In the prior month, Virginia added 9,000 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Virginia added 28,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points from 2.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In September, Virginia’s private sector lost 200 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 24,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Virginia added 9,400 net private payroll jobs.

• In September, employment in Virginia fell by 4,787, and over the past 12 months it fell by 78,386.

• Virginia’s labor force participation rate fell to 64.6 percent in September from 64.7 percent and ranks 15th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

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Virginia

Payroll employment

• Virginia lost 5,000 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Virginia added 9,000 jobs. Virginia nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 119,000 in September, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 24th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Virginia lost 200 private sector jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during September. In the prior month, Virginia added 9,400 jobs. Virginia private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 97,000 jobs in September, or 0.1 percent. Virginia is tied for 29th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.

From August 2025 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Financial Activities (+2,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+1,600).
• The worst performing sectors were State and Local Government (-4,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (-2,700).

From September 2024 to September 2025:

• The best performing sectors were Private Education and Health Services (+22,800) and Construction (+13,500).
• The worst performing sectors were Professional and Business Services (-10,800) and Federal Government (-8,700).

Virginia

Labor force

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate in Virginia fell to 64.6 percent in September from 64.7 percent in the prior month.

• Virginia ranks 15th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Virginia was 66.3 percent occurring in August 2023, and the 10-year low was 63.4 percent occurring in February 2021.

• The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.4 percent in September.